The Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday directed
immediate implementation of air purifiers at six traffic intersections to fight
pollution especially with the onset of winters. According to Delhi government
official,in collaboration with the PWD,National Environmental Engineering
Research Institute (NEERI) will design and execute induceddraft creation units
at five major traffic intersections in Delhi.

 “The IDC at IIT
Bombay will help NEERI design for these traffic intersections. Such a unit has
the potential to reduce carbon monoxide and particulate emission by 40%-60%
emission in 20-30 metre radius during peak hours of traffic,” said an official.
The office further added that NEERI, a research institute created and funded by
Government of India,has been given the mandate to design and implement these
solutions. As per the official, in a pilot study executed in IIT Bombay on JVLR
Road shows reduction of 55-76% for PM2.5 and 73- 88% for PM10.

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“Air quality sensors, anemometers, camera and counters
will be mounted on these units for better mapping which will enable robust data
assimilation and analysis,” stated the official. This step will also
execute directions of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to DPCC dated
29 December,which requires action on creating green buffers along traffic
corridors, and reduce kerbside pollution and intervene at road traffic
intersections using different technologies, as per the directions. Besides,the
Deputy CM also ordered DPCC to conduct the five studies regarding air pollution
along with NEERI,which will result in concrete deliverables, which will help
the Delhi government to curb the menace of air pollution. In addition, Sisodia
directed immediate implementation of six new measures to curb the menace of air
pollution in Delhi.

The ideas and their proposals stem from scientific reports
of Government of India by CPCB, CSIR and NEERI and orders of the National Green
Tribunal (NGT). “These include feasibility of use of cow dung, sewage
sludge, alum sludge for its possible fuel pellets, tiles, bricks or other
useful material, design of air pollution control system for green
crematorium,design of passive venting system for dumpsite, design and policy
document for brick kilns air pollution control and design of a clean tandoor
community kitchen system,” added the official. On increasing pollution
levels,especially with smog engulfed today, Sumit Sharma, Fellow , TERI (The
Energy and Resources Institute) said,”In absence of stringent emission
control measures, air quality is hugely dependent on meteorology.